northie

Writer, reader, holder of strong views, tireless advocate of queer rights, critic, guide, friend. I don't think there is any corner of this site which escaped Carlos' influence. GA will be a quieter, more subdued place without him. I miss you, Carlos. RIP

Most of my watching is via BBC i-player, so UK only. Although most of it is probably available through some streaming service or another. Shetland is one of my current go-tos. Police procedural / mystery based on Shetland. The cases are pretty good, but another big attraction is the Shetland Isles in all their moody, changeable glory. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2396135/ https://www.shetland.org/visit/do/shetland-tv

The first prompt grabbed me immediately. Snatches of dialogue, situations... But, I'm already juggling two things. Maybe I'll treat myself to a day off sometime soon. 🤨😊

Pansies by Alexis Hall. My rating: 5 out of 5 stars Why bother with a predictable or exotic location for your queer romance when South Shields in the NE of England works perfectly well? I love the way Alexis Hall sees beyond the surface drabness of a run-down coastal town to find so many points of character, fascination, and natural beauty. And surely it's important some queer tales take place in forgotten geographic corners. Not everyone lives in London, Manchester, or Brighton. This story showcases Hall's ability to write humour, pathos, sexiness, and descriptive flights of fancy. Both lead characters are believable, ranging far beyond those who populate many queer romances. And they're both lovable, in their very different ways. Fen works in a florist's shop. Alfie has moved away from his roots to work a high-powered job in the City. They meet by accident when Alfie returns for a friend's wedding. Fen's confidence in who he is baffles Alfie. Alfie's acquired metropolitan disdain for this bleakly beautiful part of world irritates Fen. Their journey is long but also engaging on many levels. One to re-read. The narrator does an excellent job, Geordie accents and all.

I am already acquainted with your Harris tweed jacket and its virtues. 🤨😊 It was a pleasure meeting the remaining contents of your cedar closet. I love how each garment is marked by time and redolent of so many differing events or memories in your life. I think my favourites are both red: the windbreaker with its trim, and the aptly named parka.

Thank you for your hard work and dedication so far, @Valkyrie. I've certainly benefitted from it. The power, the power... 👀😬😄

Mr Loverman by Bernardine Evaristo. My rating: 5 out 5 stars If, like me, you spend much of your time reading queer fiction, it's very easy to fall into the trap of assuming the majority of main characters are young(ish), white(ish) and come from (more or less) privileged backgrounds. It's a phenomenon that's particularly prevalent in romance but can carry over into other genres. The hero of 'Mr Loverman' is none of these things. And it is such a pleasure to encounter an authentically different voice. Evaristo draws you right into Barrington Walker's complex, multi-layered existence. Seventy-four years old, Antiguan born and now living in the London borough of Hackney, our hero is trying to make sense of where he is in the world. Married, with grown-up children, he finally seizes an unexpected opportunity to acknowledge the real love of his life. Evaristo's writing is vivid and authentic. Barrington Walker comes alive. In fact, you seem to share his headspace. This works very well, involving the reader in his hopes, thoughts, and memories as the present-day Walker tries to now live life as his true self. Thought-provoking, tender, funny, and, for me, a glimpse into other lives lived.

I adored these. The whole has a feeling of a haibun, though there's no actual prose. Some of your skyscrapers are also kimo - vivid, full-throated descriptions of stillness. They're also snapshots of wildness and nature, something that graces much of your verse. The blank verse tells such stories - family history, your history. Its immediacy, humour, and nostalgia draw you in and hold you there, wanting to know what's next. An exploration of many things. Thank you. 😘

Thank you. And this was quite early on in my writing journey. I honestly didn't understand just how much of an anti-hero Eric was when compared with the standard protagonist of many queer novels. 🤨😄

Surely, that's an incentive to Myr to add more levels. What's higher than Epic?

Syncopation by Anna Zabo My rating: 4 out of 5 stars In music, syncopation is the idea of cross-beats, a rhythm that stands out against whatever else is going on. Yes, it can be a cause of musical conflict or tension, but syncopation is also an important part of the musical whole. Those different, independent beats often enhance whatever else is going on. They add strength. This is where we meet Ray van Zeller and Xavier Damos. Ray's band is going through tricky times. So is Xavier, in a different way. Xave answers an audition call as a drummer for Ray's band and excels. There's no question he's going to be good for Twisted Wishes, but only if he and Ray can get past some joint ancient history. Plus, Xave got burned in his previous post. He swears not to get involved with any of his bandmates this time. Lead singer Ray lacks self-confidence off the stage. Having a musical know-it-all in the form of the band's new drummer doesn't look likely to improve things but beggars can't be choosers. There are concerts to get through. Concerts that have to reach the level their record label expects. The catalyst that finally brings the two men together comes from a surprising direction. Domino/Dominic, guitar, and Mish, bass guitar, make up the rest of the band. A family who look after their own. Both characters star in their own book later in the series. Anna Zabo revels in describing performing, the joy of making music, especially in front of enthusiastic audiences. Their writing also includes drama, kink, rivalries, and unapologetic queerness. I'm a musician. Novels with music at their core are something I enjoy. Syncopation is no exception.

@Cia So there's no theme? Prompt? And yes, I also missed the announcement... 🤨😄

Hi, you might get a better response if you repost in the Writers' Club. You'll need to join first. I think there's a section for seeking editors / beta-readers. I get the impression there's a shortage of available editors... Good luck.

I've just double checked to see what I get shown. If this is an example of what's been referred to, I wouldn't describe them as 'explicit'. I would describe this as a generic ad targeting any users of a queer site. If they cause issues with workplace filters (I haven't experienced any yet), I guess that'd have to be a workplace conversation. The ads are placed by Google. I'm not sure what, if any, control can be exerted by GA.

A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars This book contains magic, Edwardian society, arcane puzzles, soul-deep connections, and the British civil service. What a mix. And you know what? It works. It really works. Some reviewers complain there's not enough emphasis on the magic. For me, it's enough. Magic drives the plot, steers the action, and has sufficient internal logic to hold the story together. I don't want to be sitting through pages of lore or mechanics. Yes, it's alt world fantasy, but the author seizes her opportunity to portray Edwardian London (and the countryside) as being inhabited by a more diverse set of characters than you usually get. And rightfully so. The two leads, Sir Robin Blyth (definitely non-magical) and Edwin Courcy (insufficiently magical), are not the only queer players on stage. Blyth's assistant at the office is both female (unusual) and of Indian heritage (even more unusual). She plays a greater part in the book than you initially expect. Any novel that chips away at the idea that history is the province of straight, cis, white men should always be welcome. The main story arc introduced here is projected to drive another two novels. At its core is a magical struggle between good and evil. Predictable? Yes maybe, but Marske provides nuance, unusual slants, and plenty of colour beyond the expected black and white. No-one is a cardboard cut-out. Without this magical mystery, the romance wouldn't stand on its own. As part of the whole thing though, it's one strand of many that slowly bind Robin and Edwin, and their fates, together. Any standard romantic tropes are counterbalanced by the presence of some very relatable frailties. They only make you root for both men the more. After a confusing first chapter (maybe I wasn't listening hard enough), A Marvellous Light settles into an engaging, different, entertaining read. The second book, A Restless Truth, is now available.

Although our paths never really crossed, it's clear Mawgrim contributed not only his stories but across the site. I read his last blogpost which he described as 'whingeing'. It is hardly whingeing to look your mortality squarely in the face. Clear-eyed courage is more appropriate. My commiserations to Mawgrim's many friends on GA and to his family.

Thought I'd come and grace the new thread. Congrats to the penguin. 🐧 You don't mind if I take the crown? New owner and all that. I understand it needs altering. To fit my head. 😁👑

Wow - enjoy the temporary glory...

Maybe another adventure calls... 🤨😄 Thanks for reading.

With the blessing of GA's admins, I have some sad news to report. Long-time GA member @ancientrichard passed away suddenly at the weekend. He was at home, a place he shared with members of his found family. He first came across my radar on GA as a fellow Brit. (Yes, we're that thinly spread.) Then as I went through a phase of posting photos, he would comment particularly on my garden snaps. He was a keen gardener – flowers and veg, particularly tomatoes. There's a photo album of his garden which you can reach from his profile. Sometime later, he posted a question concerning a non-technical aspect of his own website. I was able to help and in doing so, started the email conversation which represents most of my contact with Richard. If you're curious about his website, the address is given on his profile. He built it entirely from scratch, just to prove he could. That in some ways sums up the man I saw. An older individual, keeping his mind busy and engaged. A scientist, unafraid to try new things, and not necessarily to follow well-trodden paths. He read a lot – philosophy, science, tech, and of course, fiction. Richard's tastes on GA didn't overlap with my writing much, so our paths rarely crossed. I remember him being pleased when Mike Arram's brand of historical fantasy came to the site. You can read Richard's GA blog review here of one series. In fact, he followed 119 authors, ranging from some of the site's 'great and good' to several names I haven't seen before. I shall miss Richard. This is only my incomplete view. Please use the comments to add your thoughts and recollections. They are all welcome. Addition: I originally intended to do this as a joint post with @Parker Owens but time zones went against us. Here are Parker's thoughts: I remember interacting with him in reaction to GA stories and posts. He and I shared a love for @AC Benus 'Bound & Bound'. We shared interests in mathematics, especially irrational numbers like pi and e. He had an appreciation for pattern in both maths and poetry.

My first attempt was Going to waste? - a very short piece I still love. Also, Takes the biscuit - another humorous one. A rather different take can be found in Boxed In - this is more horror, though with some dark comedic elements.

I always keep half an eye on my stories' reading stats. December's though, have really made me sit up. Never too late to believe (Eric's story part 3) has had some 6k views. That's pretty 👀 but it's put into the shade by Never too late to change (Eric's story part 1) with its 14.5k views. Whether you're meeting Eric for the first time or revisiting an old friend, thank you.

🍾🍾Happy New Year!🍾🍾 Let's hope it's better than this one... 🤨🙄

I rarely engage with a theme head-on - it's either tangential or multi-layered (this one often happens without me consciously registering it). A Leap of faith has a lot of possibilities.

It's not a craft decision or a boast, more I need the looming deadline nowadays to focus and get a move on. What results isn't exactly long... A good way to take a path less travelled, I've found.